Supreme Court Rules for School District in IDEA Case

Parents who challenge their children's education plans under the federal special education law have the burden of proof in due-process hearings, the Supreme Court has ruled.

The court, in a 6-2 decision on Nov. 14, held that whichever party brings such a challenge to an individualized education program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is the one that must prove its case. So school districts would bear the burden in cases in which they challenge an IEP.

But even Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who wrote the majority opinion, acknowledged that "as a practical matter, it appears that most hearing requests come from...